HIGHLIGHTS
Thousands displaced after renewed fghting in Unity.
Plight of nearly 100,000 people stranded in Yei raises alarm.
The cholera outbreak is now affecting six counties.
Fresh fghting drives a new wave of refugees to Ethiopia.
A decline in food prices provides slight reprieve in some areas
Civilians displaced and aid workers relocated from volatile areas in Unity
Renewed fghting in parts of Unity has forced people to flee their homes and prompted the relocation of aid workers, causing the suspension of the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance.
Flashpoints in recent weeks include Kaljak, Ding-Ding, Jazeera, Koch and Buaw. Fighting has displaced civilians into swampy areas, with many traveling long distances on foot in search of safety. There are reports of civilians being killed, raped and abducted during the fghting and while fleeing, as well as of forced recruitment of children in Guit.
Over the last two weeks of September, 62 aid workers were relocated from these locations, including 38 from Jazeera and Nhialdu and 24 from Buaw and Koch. This disrupted life-saving services for over 65,000 people in need.
The relocations highlight the dangerous and diffcult operating environment in Unity, where humanitarians have faced increaing insecurity over the past year and a half. In July 2016, humanitarian assets were looted and aid workers were relocated from Leer following fghting. In order to engage authorities on the critical importance of respecting humanitarian principles and ensuring the safety and security of aid workers, a humanitarian team visited Leer town and Ding-Ding on 28 and 29 September.
Meanwhile, in accessible parts of Unity, humanitarian response is ongoing. This includes programming reaching thousands of vulnerable families in Leer county through the distribution of health backpacks, water flters, essential household items (plastic sheets, blankets, and mosquito nets), and fshing kits; and a rapid response mission which assisted about 15,000 people in Thanyang and 8,000 in Ngop (Rubkona).
Humanitarian organizations are closely monitoring the situation in areas where they have had to relocate staff to determine when it will be appropriate to return.
